Akiba's Beat launch date has been announced, with a music-filled trailer to match

Ah, so it seems that the word "beat" in Akiba's Beat's title actually carries some meaning. I had begun watching the announcement trailer for the "satirical JRPG" with expectations of upgraded stripping gameplay, only to be met with a heavy emphasis on music instead. I can't say I'm disappointed, though.

Akiba's Beat is the "spiritual successor" to Akiba's Trip, hence the lack of stripping, though the Akihabara district of Tokyo remains as the setting. This time, players will take control of a party of characters with main character Asahi Tachibana at their helm, ridding Akihabara - or Akiba - of "anything out of sync with reality".

One notable difference are the dungeons, which I don't recall seeing in the first game. They're called "Delusionscapes", which are populated by monsters called "deluseons" (erm, okay), and combat against them comes in the form of a party-based action battle system. Out in the real world, players will get to explore the streets of Akiba and question its residents on various things in order to unlock the Delusionscapes.

Akiba - which is once again a "true-to-life recreation" - looks a bit more futuristic this time in parts of the trailer, in contrast to the fantasy-like dungeons. Akiba's Beat also comes across as being less comedic than the stripping antics of its predecessor, though the music sure is nice and the music-based theme should provided enough quirks of its own (too bad we probably won't be able to strip with music though...).

Akiba's Beat is set to be dropped on PS4 and PS Vita on May 16, and prices have already been announced ($49.99 and $39.99 MSRP respectively). It'll come with dual audio support with English and Japanese dialogue options and offers cute mascot Pinkun in plushie form as a pre-order bonus (at participating retailers while supplies last).

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